Psalm 66: Come and See; Come and Hear

Today’s reading is Psalm 66.

This week’s praise divides into two sections. The first section (vss. 1-12) expresses communal or national praise and thanksgiving for deliverance from physical suffering. The second section (vss. 13-20) expresses individual praise for personal deliverance from sin.

Because of the shift from community to individual, some suggest two psalms have been squished together. However, notice the two invitations offered.

In vs. 5, the community invites all the peoples and nations of the earth to…

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

In vs. 16, the individual invites all God’s people to…

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

These two sections are not separate, they go together. Keep in mind the political suffering the nation endured was almost always because of their sins. Even the time in Egypt, the deliverance from which takes center stage in the communal portion of this psalm, came about because of Israel’s sin (see Ezekiel 20:7-8; 23:3, 8, 19, 27). The community calls on the nations to see the deliverance God provided from the judgment for their national sins. When the individual, perhaps the king or a priest, invites God’s people to listen, he has the same reason. Having abandoned his sins, God has forgiven him and delivered from whatever discipline he was facing. Both sections are about God’s amazing goodness, forgiveness, and deliverance.

No doubt, we have a basis for modern proclamation of the gospel. As the church, we cry out to the world, “Come and see the awesome deeds of the Lord! See the deliverance He has provided through Jesus Christ His death and resurrection.” As individual Christians, we declare to one another what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. We declare the victories He has given us over our sins. We declare the blessings we have received in our lives.

Come and see. Come and hear. God has done great things for us. Let’s tell folks about them.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 66 prompt or improve your trust in God?